omly | Entries tagged with via ljapp

We are well into the gardening preseason. Which is to say that I am hard at work with planning, but it is still too early to plant yet.

In terms of what is already in the ground:
Daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips are up but not budding yet. At least in my yard they have a few more weeks unless they are forced by unseasonably warm weather. None of the more delicate leafed perennials are out yet as it is too early. The garlic is unreasonably cheerful and thriving, and the chives are doing well.

I find my thoughts hanging on the fact that I want to get out and prune, which I could start to do anyways. Last year I wished I had more vigorously pruned back the roses, and that I could do sooner than later. The fruit trees are just starting to have close budded blossoms. The plum trees have to wait all the way past blooming to the first formation of leaves, but the other fruit trees can be a little earlier (but not yet).

The wisteria will need some loving chopping back but I am not sure when to start that. I should do some research.

Things i need to remember:
The asiatic lillies in the back yard need to be transplanted, as they are not getting quite enough sun and were spindly as a result of last year's move. The potato tower might be good to disassemble back to it's stage one state. I need to check the heather for any new growth this spring as I am not sure it survived our neighbors very thoughtful salting of the sidewalk. Tomatoes and peppers must move this year to give that bed a break. I should think about what would be good next in rotation there.

Any body interested in sharing?
I want to remulch the tiny corner bed with the lilacs and hosta. It is only like a 2.5' by 2.5' bed though, so I don't need a whole bag.

This year I would like to make some infrastructure changes to the altar garden, including adding a small flat shelf for offerings. I am not sure on whether the logistics of that will mean moving the wigeila or just trimming them back a bunch as they are overgrown from not doing so last year. And i need some good ideas for things to put on the top tier, which was empty last year.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

So the paperwork came home last night for Chiquita's picture day at school. Apparently this year all pictures are being done in front of a green screen. So the default backgrounds this year are (classic) blue or "outdoors."

Bizarre! It makes me strangely nostalgic for the shooting star background. You know back in the day when there were a bunch of pull-shade-like backgrounds. Since it is all green screen anyways, shouldn't I also get the option to inflict my nostalgia on my child?

(No I wouldn't really. She is freaked out enough that the picture from this year will be on her high school ID for the next 4 years.)

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Massachusetts, Boston, Suffolk, Charles St

At the bus stop this morning there was a little girl who was delighting in the fact that she could both see her reflection in the glass bus stop wall as well as see through it. She told her mom "I am in the trash!" with great delight and a touch of the enticingly forbidden. I was really impressed by her mom too, encouraging her to think but not pushing in a direction: parental love and support at its most unassuming.

They got on the bus with me, the same bus I take all the time. There the little girl shyly greeted a man in a suit and tie whom she didn't know. He later joined in on the discussion she and her mom were having about possibly getting a treat at Dunkin Donuts before school (preschool from her age). Then a hardworn middle aged woman joined in with just a few words.

The little girl waved to everyone (both involved in the conversation and not) when it was time for her and her mom to go, and she received many waves in return.

It would be fair to think that this all by itself was magic enough, and you would not be wrong. But then something even more magical happened: all those closed adults on their morning commute who had opened just a little for a sparkling little girl, they stayed open.

They discussed the best local bakeries and pastry shops. They compared notes on different aspects of their lives, and it gained momentum. Several more adults joined in the conversation, including the bus driver. And as we arrived at our destination I heard an exchange of names between some unlikely pairs. "Hi Daryl, it was very nice to meet you."

All these adults rediscovering themselves and sharing despite the superficial differences of background, appearance, and affluence and finding a way to break out of their insulative commute bubbles in order to do so: magic indeed.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Massachusetts, Boston, Suffolk, Braddock Park, 67

Clearly this post isn't late, it is just part of a greater plan to extend an extended birthday even further.

Happy birthday jasra!

I hope the coming year allows for contentment. (It is not overrated!) May your work logistics work out in a way you are happier with, such that you get to spend more time with the community you had been developing there. And may those you work with both professionally and on a volunteer basis appreciated the time and skills you regularly bring to bear to help them. I wish for you constructive criticism, cooperative working, and a free flow of the information you need when you optimally need it.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Massachusetts, Boston, Suffolk, Portland St, 170

Life has been full of pre-semester insanity, but fortunately I know that ifuonlyknew has become an inspiration of "start where you are, try to let go of your fear of your imperfections, and just do what you can." I am not only speaking of her pursuing dance, although it is perhaps the most obvious. This year has been full of these demonstrations from her personal to her professional life. And the thing that makes it that much more impressive is that it *hasn't* been easy. She has worked damn hard at this lesson, and I have nothing but pride in her successes, which have already taken her so far.

Happy belated birthday ifuonlyknew!

I wish a year of enough laughter to remind you how sweet life is, enough tears to wash away the hurts, and just enough outlets for your self-expression that you feel inspired by them rather than overwhelmed. May you have the satisfaction with your career that you desire, and may your home be a place that is a refuge and comfort to you when you need it.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Massachusetts, Boston, Suffolk, Medfield St, 11

By the time all is said and done, the Chiquita will have managed to go back-to-school shopping four times for this year. Crazy!

The first trip was arguably the least productive (supplies-wise at least) yet the most important. She went with some friends from the MoS summer photography class. Since this summer we have been developing her ability to get around on public transportation by herself, this was a huge independence milestone. The girls got there by themselves, got lunch, did some shopping and then each went home to their respective locations within the timeframe they had let their parental units know about. She came back glowing and self-confident.

The second trip was with me on Friday. This was sort of back-to-school shopping for both of us, as I am starting a more management-type position with the undergraduates and needed more professional stuff. I had front loaded my work-week, so I was able to take a half day with her. She delighted in the idea of lunch out in the city and shopping. We had lunch in Chinatown and then walked over to Downtown Crossing.

I teased her that she had run through all of my shopping energy after the first store, in which she made us do 3 separate trips each to the dressing rooms. She scoffed and suggested espresso. We managed to get through a couple more stores and to collect a good set of staple items each, and then we split up for different directions on the subway. It still seems a little odd that I can do that!

Saturday jasra took her out for what Chiquita described as "girl time." In addition to shopping, they got their nails done, which she delighted in showing me. She was also quite pleased with her shopping finds, including (not to be discussed with boys clearly) undergarments. She was very pleased with this since her last trip was to be with her dad, and she was not going to go with him for that under any circumstances. In fact she may have done a horrified gasp and overly loud whispered warning when bras were even mentioned when her dad was in the house (not even the room).

So as mentioned, the final trip is going to be with her dad early this week. Between him having some weird ideas* about getting clothes for her and her self-consciousness, she will likely get most office supplies and maybe a few shirts and pairs of pants.

Fortunately she is quite happy with all the shopping opportunities. I am just grateful to have them spread around. I am not into the shopping thing. jasra may be a saint to have managed four hours.

*Last year he decided that she had to get pants that were a several sizes too big so that she would grow into them. This is not a terrible idea at first, but at this point she is just about my height and unlike when she was in child sizes, the number value doesn't really tell you much about length. So despite her trying to explain to him, he bought her several pairs of pants she still can't wear. And given she may be just about done with growing, will be unlikely to be able to wear unless she suddenly gains a bunch of weight and hems them (where it is necessary and possible).

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Massachusetts, Boston, Suffolk, Ave Louis Pasteur, 24

Last weekend jasra came over to help salvbard and I tackle the jungle that had taken over during Pennsic. Not only did we get a ton of weeding done in the raised beds and front yard, but we also pruned back some of the larger perennials and herbs that were taking over. Score for jasra's coworkers!

Besides yard clean up, we also did some improvements for the front yard that I have been wanting for a while. We added some late blooming flowers since I didn't have many: black-eyed susans, coneflower, Russian sage, and yellow poppies. In addition to the welcome color, I am really glad to have reestablished some nectar-flow.

The final major accomplishment was finally putting down a slate path between the beds. Hopefully this will help clean up the look of it some and minimize the amount of weeding needed to keep it passable. For added bonus it completes the last part of the property boundary walk I have been working on at the suggestion of catya.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Massachusetts, Boston, Suffolk, Winter St, 19

Last week Chiquita had a week long set of photography classes at the Museum of Science. She actually has been fairly interested in photography for a number of years, and I have fond recollections of salvbard and she sitting side by side, focused.

The beginning of the week did not get great reviews, which was a bit harder for me as I was still at Pennsic. She didn't like the icebreaker games, and felt like they didn't get through much material. I clearly have no idea who majes was referring to that he felt she sounded like with her cries of "this feels like a waste of my time" as one of the worst judgements she could make of it.

She dismisses their attempts at drawing in the ideas of subatomic particles as explanation of what the light was doing. ("Well photons are the basis of the light you you for photography" I tried. "But I don't need to know about protons or neutrons. You need light for photography, that is all I need to know!")

They made pin hole cameras though, which she thought was pretty cool. And apparently she was fairly taken with an explanation of why a tree was like a pin hole camera, which she seemed to think was quite clever.

By the second day though she had made firmer friendships with the likely candidates I had heard about the day before. She made plans to hang out with her new friends outside of photography class and carried them out with our awareness. I was actually quite pleased by how good she was about keeping me in the loop about her plans and whereabouts so that I didn't worry.

There was good discussion about composition and the mathematical ratios that strike the eye as pleasing. I heard a lot of "did you know..." on the subjects of the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequences.

And the thing that I thought she would be interested in most was a big hit: the dark room. She may have already made some declarative statements on what she thought parts of the basement should be repurposed for. She also has some slightly untrue ideas about what we have at work for materials. But she will figure it out.

I had been wondering if she might have been happier in a more art centric program, but the whole experience seems to have gone over well in the end. I think we will likely be looking for another photography class for next year (possibly elsewhere just for variety).

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Massachusetts, Cambridge, Middlesex, Memorial Dr

Saturday, still on EST, I woke a little before dawn. I didn't mind though, as I got to sit on the deck in the night cooled air and watch the sun rise between the trees and over the mountain.

After that I did my yoga while the house was still quiet. Fortunately I received some kitty assistance though. I am not sure how I might have managed on my own.

Eventually people started to stir, and soon I was helping with fruit salad, while sausage and French toast were in progress. Breakfast out on the deck was lovely, and soon we were packing up.

We spent the day with my cousin and her partner. They already had plans to go tubing at Clear Creek Whitewater Park, which we were invited along to.

It is a shortish ~1.5 mile stretch that was taking about 25 minutes to either float down or walk back up.

It had a really good mix of fun rapids and deeper lazy parts, where you could just lay back and enjoy the sounds of the river, the view of the mountains, and the aerial dance if sparrows and dragonflies over the water. Depending on how you steered you could get more of one or the other.

After our first trip down , we came across a groom's party doing wedding photos. This led to a really funny set of shots for which we volunteered our tubes, and they laughed and gamely mixed brightly colored river tubes with formal suits.

There were a ton of people there, unsurprising given the mid to high 90s temperatures. And they had a huge range of floats. We saw just one inflatable dingy (with oars), tons of both thick black tubes and thinner but funky colored ones like ours. We only saw one inflatable pirate ship, but it was awesome. There were several really funny groups on inflatable mattresses. The two on a twin mattress almost made sense, but the 4 early 20-somethings on a queen mattress was just crazy.

We picnicked in Lions Park in Golden, before hoping back in. And after some more water time, we went to go get icecream at Golden Sweets. Then we headed back to the house for pizza and guesstures. Much hilarity ensued, and I finished knitting another ball of yarn into my Clapotis.

As mentioned for Day 1 my plan was sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. Knowing I am probe to sunburn and that we were significantly higher with less atmospheric protection, this was a huge priority for me. Since I was reapplying every 40 minutes to an hour, I managed to mostly avoid redness other than the tops of my feet that were in the water, as my sunscreen was water-resistant rather than water-proof. Everyone else came away with too much sun though. Poor salvbard got his first serious sunburn in approximately 20 years. Fortunately we got him some aloe which helped some.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Colorado, Golden, Jefferson, Illinois St, 3301

So as of today it has been a year since I started gaming within majes's world of Krayzen. For the most part we have managed to have a weekly game, with relatively few exceptions. And I have sort of come to love the energy of spirit of Chloe and her compatriots, especially when they manage to surprise me which is more often than you would think.

Especially fantastic in all of this was the wiki jasra keeps running and refining. It has been an invaluable reference, and I often experience a bit of befuddlement that they would let me help work on it too. It has been fantastic to get to play with worlds and flesh out the connective bits between the rich material in there.

A completely unexpected plus to regularly playing in this world is the fabulous discussion of mechanics and hearing the storytelling by majes about various parts of history of the world while we hike or travel. He really is gifted, and I am always ready to relax back into his storytelling, with the occassional question or heated discussion thrown in.

So happy birthday Chloe, and thank you to the awesome group that I have played with this year! I feel really lucky that you all took me in, especially since it has been many many years since I have done a table top campaign.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Current Location: US, Massachusetts, Boston, Suffolk, Dartmouth St, 191

Friday I had to go into the office for a while although it was my day off (more on that later), but after that I met up with chaiya. We hadn't been able to catch up in a while, and planning and making Shabbat dinner was a good excuse. It is funny how easily I was able to slip right back into the rules of the kitchen.

Dinner was very tasty. crazybone, hakamadare, and A all helped too. We made a poached salmon with a creamed leek sauce, pureed pasnips, sauteed spinach, mixed diced root vegetables and lava cakes. The last was accomplished pretty much entirely single-handedly by hakamadare, although the icecream was chosen and dished out mostly by Chiquita.

Saturday was the Arisia debrief. I still need to finish my written report, but I had the rough numbers crunched in time. Many thanks to everyone who contributed time and energy to making Arisia programming so successful this year!

Afterwards majes and I were able to slip away for some time together. I was fairly fried, but he was amazing and held up the logistics while I babbled at him. We had tasty Afghanistani food, wandered home, and still went hiking in the morning (though for a short hike given other time pressures).

Sunday salvbard, Chiquita and I were priveleged to have brunch with jasra, her parents and majes. S&S does a great brunch, and the company was lovely. Then it was home for a nap, watching the birds at the feeders, and making dinner with salvbard.

Yay great weekend. Apparently I was really focused on the food and company :)

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.